> >Oamaru - Penguin Colony, you can get to within feet of a 
> >wild penguin -
>>there is a fee to get that close though, about US$ 15 each 
>>if I remember
>>rightly.

Can be seen "in the wild" elsewhere but variably 
predicatble.
I have had them "run right past" in places.

Cape Palliser near Wellington has seals/sealions sunning 
themselves on the rocks. Get as close as you dare. Don't 
dare TOO much.

Kaikoura can have seals and penguins oj the beach at once as 
porpoises swim by out to sea and whales surface and sound 
(some way out). I've been lucky enough to see all that at 
once. Almost stood on a seal before I knew he was there. The 
smell is a better indicator than visual - they can vanish 
visually amongst rocks amazingly well.

>>From Dunedin there is a nice day trip out to see the 
>>penguin and albatross
> colonies that exist around the south side of the Dunedin 
> harbour. My
> understanding is that the albatross colony is the only one 
> on any mainland
> anywhere in the world, and there is always some chicks to 
> see either
> directly or via closed circuit TV, as they take around 18 
> months to grow to
> a point where they can leave the next.

Albatrosses are fenced out of view so you MUST pay their 
stiff fee to view. Can't be helped.

> has been restored, and test fired since restoration. A 
> similar gun is on
> Victoria Heads in Auckland.

Almost.
Mt Victoria.

> On the way out to the headland you can visit NZs only 
> 'castle', which is
> still a private residence.

Fake but worthwhile.
$millions to build when that was real real real money.

> If you further south, from Clutha

Go to the dam.
Stand at (by) the bottom of the spillway.
Tremble.
Death incarnate.
Probably the best in NZ.

> If travelling the west coast

Wet Coast !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> there is also a pleasant walk around Lake Matheson, again 
> a spot with much
> photography potential.

Church of the Good Shepherd.
Better on stamps than in reality.
But good.

> ... Skippers Canyon is where

one of

> NZs Gold Rush

es

> started, and you will probably get
> the opportunity to try panning for gold as part of the 
> trip. You can also do
> a Bungee Jump up here. but the original AJ Hackett Bungee 
> is elsewhere in
> Queenstown.

Arrowtown nearby caters for this.
Drive the Skippers Road if you can.
Better still as a car pasenger.
About the most horrifying road experience in NZ.
Not many cars and minibuses (more of the latter) fall off 
here.
Terrifying ... .

Earnslaw Steamer on the lake.

Kingston Flyer real steam train to, er, Kingston.




        Russell 

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